Following the recent controversy in which the Kerala State Transport Corporation (KSRTC) routed low-floor Volvo ac buses meant for city on state routes, the Kochi corporation is planning to write to the state government to form a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to run buses purchased using Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) funds.
Mayor Tony Chammany said the steering committee would discuss the issue before raising the demand. In the absence of an SPV, the state government had decided to entrust KSRTC to run these services temporarily in 2009.
“The decision by the KSRTC has subverted the objective of introducing low-floor buses. The aim of the project was to lure more passengers by providing luxury travel, thereby reducing the number of vehicles on the road,” said Chammany.
According to JNNURM norms, the right to fix the routes rests with the civic body concerned. But now it is the KSRTC which fixes the routes of these buses.
On Monday, mayor Tony Chammany staged a sit-in protest against KSRTC’s decision to use ac low-floor buses for long distance services. “I have registered the protest of the council before KSRTC officials. We have demanded that all the buses allotted to Kochi should be given back for operating services within city and the urban area,” Mayor said.
But opposition councillors contented that the mayor was staging a drama instead of taking any concrete steps to force the KSRTC to return those buses. “Around six months ago, we had asked the corporation to float an SPV and to pass a resolution in this regard. But the mayor was reluctant to do that,” said M P Mahesh Kumar, councillor, Kochi corporation. “We had requested him to intervene in deciding the routes as well. In fact, we had given a proposal to the start ac low-floor buses connecting the tourist spots in Kochi like Cherai,” he said. Accepting the criticism, mayor Tony Chammany admitted that the civic body had not approached the state government to float an SPV after he assumed office.
Meanwhile, KL-15 9805, one of the low-floor buses meant for Kochi, arrived at the KSRTC bus stand in Kottayam at around 8.50 am on Monday. Though the first bus arrived at the stand 20 minutes late, commuters gathered around the bus to give it a warm welcome. The bus was half filled when it started the return journey at 9.10 am.
According to the schedule, there will be three services every day between Kottayam and Ernakulam, said KSRTC Kottayam depot officials. “If the bus starts from here around 7 am, it will benefit many of us who work in various firms in Ernakulam,” said Kochuvava, who works in a consultancy firm in Panampilly Nagar.
Jacob Iype, who is working in a restaurant in Vytilla, also opined that the service should depart a little early from Kottayam.
Kochi: In the wake of the recent controversies regarding AC low-floor buses allotted to Kochi being shifted to other parts of the state, the city corporation is planning to write to the state government seeking formation of special purpose vehicle (SPV). Mayor Tony Chammany said that the steering committee will discuss the issue before raising the demand with the state government.
In the absence of an SPV, the state government in 2009 decided to entrust KSRTC the running of these services temporarily. The decision by KSRTC has betrayed the objective of low floor buses provided under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme. The aim of the project was to lure those who are not using public transport system by providing them luxury travel. By this the city could have avoided many private vehicles and shrug off much traffic,” Mayor Tony Chammany said. According to the norms in the JNNURM, the right to fix the routes rests with the civic body concerned. But now it is the KSRTC which fixes the routes of these buses.
On Monday, Mayor Tony Chammany held a sit in protest against the KSRTC’s decision to shift AC low-floor buses to starting long distance services. I have registered the protest of the council before the KSRTC officials. We have demanded that all the buses allotted to Kochi should be given back for operating services within city and the urban agglomeration,” Mayor said.
But the operation councillors are of the opinion that Mayor had been staging a drama rather than taking any concrete step to force the KSRTC to return those buses. Around six months ago, we had asked in the council that the corporation should decide to float an SPV and sent a resolution in this regard to the state government. But the Mayor was reluctant for that,” said M P Mahesh Kumar, councillor, Kochi Corporation. We had requested him to intervene in deciding the routes as well. In fact, we had given a proposal to the start AC low-floor buses connecting the tourist spots in Kochi like Cherai,” he said. Mayor Tony Chammany also agreed that the civic body hasn’t reminded the state government of floating the SPV after he assumed office.
Source: Times Of India
